Burned Oakland Store Being Renovated

OAKLAND — Workers began renovating a burned grocery store Wednesday and could finish late this week, the store owner said Thursday.

Police have charged an Oakland man with arson in the July 30 fire, which destroyed everything inside Carol's Country Store No. 2, 320 W. Oakland Ave.

The suspect, Ricky Johnson, 520 W. Oakland Ave., was arrested by police Sgt. Edwin Nelson at 1:13 a.m. July 30, about an hour after a witness reported the fire.

Johnson is in Orange County Jail on $5,000 bail, said Police Chief Hueld Morrow.

The fire began when a beer bottle full of gasoline was thrown through a front window, said owner Bob Lovett.

The explosion and flames destroyed everything inside the store but the exterior of the building remains sound, he said.

The town council agreed Tuesday to waive a section of the building code requiring a building to be a certain height above the ground so that Lovett could begin renovations. The building, erected in the late 1930s, met every other specification, according to Oakland's building inspector, and never had any problem with its elevation.

After the building inspector and Lovett's contractor examined the building, reconstruction began early Wednesday morning. Lovett said he expects the work to be completed in 10 days. The store then will move from its temporary quarters in a building Lovett owns across the street.

Lovett said there are no ill feelings between him and Johnson, whom he has known for some time.

''I'm not angry, I just feel sorry for him,'' Lovett said. ''I am just thrilled that he chose the time of night that he did. I can always replace inventory but there is no replacing human life.''

Lovett said he was pleased with the council's decision and happy that the store will reopen quickly.